Paris to Normandy
I recently re-visited Normandy for the 75th anniversary of D Day.
While France's northern cost is perhaps most known for the World War II memorial sites, I think there's plenty of reasons to visit Normandy!
It's one of my favorite regions in France and today I'm sharing a practical guide on how to get from Paris to Normandy, as well as travel tips to make the most of your visit.
Quickly jump to:
- Where is Normandy
- Normandy's Best D-Day Sights
- Visiting as a Day Trip from Paris
- Visiting via Guided Tour (recommended)
- Staying in Bayeux vs Caen
- How to Get from Paris to Normandy
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Quick Guide to Normandy
Accommodation: Base yourself in either Bayeux (more quaint) or Caen (bigger transport hub)
Getting In: If flying into Paris, you can easily take the high-speed train to Normandy. Rouen is the regional capital, Bayeux and Caen are popular for visiting the D-Day beaches. Book your train tickets on Omio, as SNCF overcharges.
Getting Around: Once in Normandy, rent a car to see the beautiful Normandy countryside. The region is known for apple orchards, fresh seafood and excellent cheese! I use AutoEurope to price compare rates from all the major car rental companies.
Best D-Day Tours
- From Paris: this full-day guided tour takes you to Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc and the American cemetery
- From Bayeux: an excellent full-day tour, focused on the American D-Day sites
- From Bayeux: a half-day tour of the highlights: Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc and the American Cemetery
- From Caen: this tour takes you to 3 D-Day sights as well as the Caen Memorial museum
- Best for small groups: Bayeux local Johann brings a personal touch to Normandy's D-day highlights! Great for history buffs
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Where is Normandy
Normandy is one of the 18 regions of France, located in the north.
Its beautiful coastline is most famous for the church of Mont Saint Michel, a medieval monastery perched on an island off the shore.
Americans might also be familiar with it for its World War II beaches, where the Allies launched their offensive attack across five beaches on D Day.
But the history in Normandy goes back farther than that.
Due to its close proximity to England, Normandy has played an outsized role in French history.
Get entry tickets: for Mont St Michel here
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If you've seen The Last Kingdom or Vikings on Netflix, you might already know a little bit about Normandy's history!
A Brief History of Normandy
Normandy means Land of the Northmen.
The region actually got its name because the original inhabitants were from Scandinavia. Vikings (aka Northmen) settled the area in the 9th and 10th centuries, led by their Chieftan Rollo.
The French (along with much of England, Ireland and the rest of Europe) were forced to appease the Northeners with gold and land to stop attacking them.
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Over time, the Vikings blended with the local inhabitants, giving the region a mix of Old Norse and Frankish traditions.
But they retained their fierce fighting skills and a little over a century later, Rollo's descendant William of Normandy crossed the English Channel.
He captured the throne of England, in a shocking defeat and was later named William the Conqueror for the act.
Over the next few centuries, Normandy flipped back and forth between English and French control.
Today, the period is what we refer to as the Hundred Years War.
Read more: 25 of the Best Things to Do in Normandy
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Famous Crusader (and King of England) Richard the Lionheart is actually buried in Rouen and not England!
Rouen is the regional capital of Normandy and one of my favorite cities in the region.
Overall, I find Normandy's history fascinating.
I find the people here to be the most warm and welcoming in all of France and the apple and dairy baked goods are delicious.
But whether you like history, small towns or great cuisine, there so much to explore in Normandy!
Read more: The Best Towns in Normandy You Should Visit
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How Far is Normandy from Paris
Normandy lies roughly 200 km (approx 125 miles) west of Paris.
Some quaint towns, like Giverny, can be easily explored on a leisurely day trip from Paris.
Giverny is most famous for Monet's house and gardens. I wrote about it here, or you can buy tickets for the museum and grounds here.
Others, like Mont Saint Michel and the World War II memorials are much farther from Paris.
They lie along Normandy's far northwest coast and are better explored by staying overnight in the region.
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Visiting Normandy for D Day
Since most Americans head to Normandy to see the D Day beaches, I'll go into depth about how best to visit them below.
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Day Trip from Paris to D Day Beaches
It's possible to see the D-day landing beaches in a day trip from Paris, but fair warning – it will be a brutally long day.
For context, the Normandy beaches are spread out across 50 miles, from east to west, in an area far from Paris.
And there's lots to see! You'll likely have just enough time to see a couple of the main sites – briefly.
For a day trip, I'd recommend booking this tour, which will cover all the transportation, lunch and include a guide.
I've visited the D-Day beaches both with and without a guide and found the experience much more insightful when I opted for the tour.
They're able to bring the windy, desolate beaches to life with history in a way you can't quite experience otherwise.
Popular D-Day Tours
- From Paris: this full-day guided tour takes you to Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc and the American cemetery
- From Bayeux: an excellent full-day tour, focused on the American D-Day sites
- From Bayeux: a half-day tour of the highlights: Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc and the American Cemetery
- From Caen: this tour takes you to 3 D-Day sights as well as the Caen Memorial museum
- Best for small groups: Bayeux local Johann brings a personal touch to Normandy's D-day highlights! Great for history buffs
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How to Day Trip from Paris to Normandy
First take the train from Paris into Bayeux or Caen.
These are the two historic cities nearest to the Normandy beaches.
Both are easily accessible by train from Paris but the one way train ride takes roughly 2.5 hours.
I cover how to take the train in more depth, below.
Next, I would definitely hire a local guide or pre-book a D Day tour
By booking ahead, the guide will meet you at the train station in Normandy.
They'll also take care of all the logistics involved in getting around Normandy. Normandy is the French countryside, so it's pretty difficult to get around without a car.
Local guides are really fantastic.
They're typically led by locals who can provide a full historical context of the memorials, ensuring that you can see and do as much as possible.
You can either book a day-tour from Paris or from Bayeux.
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Most group tours start early in the morning and end around 6pm.
So afterwards, you can take the evening train back to Paris and arrive in time for a late dinner, around 9pm.
But, honestly, this will be a rushed day.
It's much better if you have the time to stay overnight in Bayeux or Caen for a night or two, as there's a lot more to Normandy than just the 5 landing beaches.
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Tips for Visiting the Normandy Beaches
Most guided tours to the D Day sights will start early in the morning, around 9 – 9:30am.
You'll need an early train from Paris to Bayeux, or even better, arrive in Bayeux the night before.
If you want the freedom to explore on your own, there is a Hertz car rental in Bayeux, at the Total gas station outside the city.
In Caen, there are a ton of rental car offices to choose from.
I use AutoEurope to price compare all the car rental agencies in one easy search.
Browse car rental rates for your dates here.
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Normandy D Day Tours
For the D Day sights in particular, I don't recommend trying to use public transportation as it will waste a lot of time trying to get around.
The most memorable part of our visit was the history, background and depth which our guide provided.
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Bayeux vs Caen
The two closest towns to the Normandy beaches are Bayeux or Caen.
The two cities are roughly 20 miles apart, or about 30 minutes driving distance. If you have a couple of days to spend in Normandy, definitely visit both!
They are each relatively central to the D Day sights – it simply depends on how you want to explore Normandy.
Let me explain..
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Bayeux
Pros of Staying in Bayeux
Bayeux is a charming French town, with a really quaint ‘small town' feel.
It has under 15,000 inhabitants and is small enough to walk around on foot.
The riverfront area is very picturesque and the historic center is a very pretty area with cute shops and great restaurants.
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Medieval Bayeux is most famous for its cathedral.
It's just as stunning as Paris' Notre Dame – maybe more so since the famous fire.
Another big historical highlight is the Bayeux Tapestry which depicts the Norman conquest of England.
Woven by the wife of William the Conqueror, the Bayeux Tapestry is one of the oldest intact tapestries in the world.
It's so detailed and intricate, that it has its own dedicated museum.
During World War II, it was in Bayeux that Charles de Gaulle made his famous speech proclaiming France's allegiance to the Allies.
There is a Battle of Normandy WWII museum to visit and the German Gun Batteries at Longues sur Mer.
Bayeux was virtually untouched during the Battle of Normandy, so it retains its charming medieval vibe.
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Cons of Staying in Bayeux
But, Bayeux is a bit more touristy and expensive.
The town quiets down early, around 5pm.
Bayeux also has fewer direct trains from Paris so you will often have to change in Caen, and there is just 1 car rental agency in town, outside the train station.
If you plan to pick up a rental car and drive around Normandy, I wouldn't recommend taking the train from Paris to Bayeux.
But, if you plan to take a guided D-Day tour, most tours will originate from Bayeux so riding the train here makes sense.
Best for: D Day Tours
Where to Stay in Bayeux: Hotel Lion D'Or
This historic inn is cozy, modern and perfect for those wanting to stay in quaint Bayeux to see the D Day beaches.
It's within walking distance to tons of shops and restaurants and also very affordable.
Book rooms: Hotels.com, Booking.com
Check rates: TripAdvisor
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Caen
Pros of Staying in Caen
Caen feels quite vibrant and modern, with great options for dining, hotels and nightlife.
It has lots of direct train connections to Paris and also lots of car rental options.
This city is a great base for those wanting to road trip Normandy.
Caen boasts one of the best World War II museums in France, the Caen Memorial Museum, which is just 15 minutes from the D Day beaches.
Also worth exploring is the castle of William the Conqueror and medieval fortifications.
Caen is a convenient base for exploring many of Normandy's coastal towns like Dieppe, Honfleur, etc.
The city is also quite convenient as it's central hub for both train and bus connections.
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Cons of Staying in Caen
Most people who visit think Caen is ‘ugly' in comparison to Bayeux.
But, there's a lot of interesting background history here..
Caen played a key role in WWII during the Battle for Caen, a fierce fight which lasted for 2 months in the summer of 1944.
Some consider the city to have been martyred during Operation Overlord, as the Allies were forced to bomb the city and countryside extensively.
After the war, the city was slowly rebuilt in dreary concrete.
Caen today is a large industrial city, with over 100,000 inhabitants.
Best for: Visitors who plan to see more of Normandy
Where to Stay in Caen: Hotel Le Dauphin
Hotel Le Dauphin has a terrific location near the Chateau de Caen, in the historic city center.
Beds are comfy, the on site restaurant is pretty good, and there's also tons of nearby restaurants and shops to explore.
Book rooms: Booking.com
Check rates: TripAdvisor
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How to Get to Normandy from Paris by Train
From Paris, you have 3 main options:
Seine River Cruise
I've been to Normandy many times, but most recently we opted to go via cruise.
It was SO much more convenient to have all the transportation taken care of and the guides we had were excellent.
You can read more about our Seine River cruise experience here.
Read more: Sailing from Paris to Normandy: Our River Cruise Experience
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Renting a Car
France's A13 highway (the first motorway in the country) runs from Paris to Rouen.
You can reach almost all of Normandy's most famous places with the motorway.
Check car rental rates for your dates here.
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Driving from Paris to Normandy by Car
| From | To | Driving Time |
| Paris | Giverny | ~1 hour |
| Paris | Rouen | ~1.5 hours |
| Paris | Dieppe | ~2 hours |
| Paris | Deauville | ~2 hours |
| Paris | Honfleur | ~2 hours |
| Paris | Caen | ~2.5 hours |
| Paris | Cabourg | ~2.5 hours |
| Paris | Bayeux | ~3 hours |
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Paris to Normandy by Train
It's also very doable to take the train from Paris.
In France, the national rail system is called SNCF and trains will leave from either of two Paris stations:
- Gare Saint-Lazare
- Gare Montparnasse / Vaugirard
Normandy is a region, so you need to pick an arrival town for your train ticket.
Below is a list of the train options for some of the most popular places in Normandy.
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Paris to Normandy by Train
| From | To | Average Time |
| Paris | Vernon / Giverny | ~45 min |
| Paris | Evreux | ~1 hour |
| Paris | Rouen | ~1.25 hours |
| Paris | Caen | ~1.75 hours |
| Paris | Alençon | ~1.75 hours |
| Paris | Bayeux | ~2 hours |
| Paris | Le Havre | ~2 hours |
| Paris | Rennes | ~2 hours |
| Paris | Dieppe | ~2.25 hours |
| Paris | Eu | ~2.75 hours |
| Paris | Cherbourg | ~3 hours |
| Paris | Granville | ~3 hours |
Note: The times are just for reference.
Actual duration will depend on the train you take, as there are often multiple options with both slow trains and faster direct trains.
For visiting the D Day sites, the closet train station is either Bayeux or Caen.
For visiting Mont Saint Michel, the closest train station is in Rennes.
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Train Schedules
SNCF typically releases its train schedules 90 days prior to departure, at which point you can book your tickets.
For peak season (July to August), SNCF will sometimes open the train schedules earlier.
If you are seeing that a route ‘doesn't exist', you're likely just browsing too early.
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Book as soon as you have settled on your dates
It can save you nearly half price as fares will rise with time.
There are a couple different ticket options.
The cheapest fare is non refundable.
If you aren't set on your dates or want some piece of mind, purchase the flexible tickets which can be exchanged or refunded.
How to Buy French Train Tickets Online
Ah, French bureaucracy.
The French railway website has different subsidiary websites for countries around the world.
If you speak French, are using a computer located in France and have a French credit card, you can buy online directly very easily.
Here's what to do if you're located outside France.
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Where to Buy French Train Tickets
Don't buy from sncf.com if you are in the US.
The website will automatically re-direct you to a US subsidiary that is known to sell only higher priced fares for the US market, and does not allow you to choose your seat class.
Instead, use Omio, which syncs up to SNCF's ticket system and sells French train tickets for a much more wallet friendly price.
Read more: Buy Train Tickets on Omio
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Final Train Travel Tips
If you are printing your tickets in France at the train station, make sure to bring the credit card you used to purchase the tickets.
If your credit card has a chip, you can use the ticket machine. If it does not have a chip, you will need to go to the ticket window.
These printed tickets should be validated before boarding.
Look for the yellow machines at the entrance to each platform that say ‘Compostez votre billet'.
Failure to do so can result in a fine!
If your tickets are the print at home kind, don't worry about validating them. It's not needed.
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Planning Notes - Normandy Travel Checklist
Flights | I recommend flying into Paris, then either taking the train to Normandy or booking day trips from the capital if you don't want to worry about logistics. Check for flight deals here.
Trains | From Paris, you can high-speed trains to towns throughout Normandy. Check my post here for more logistical information on taking the train in France and how not to buy tickets.
Car Rental | Normandy is primarily countryside, and one of the nicest ways to explore is on a road trip. I use Auto Europe to price compare all the major rental agencies in one search. Check rates for your travel dates here.
D-Day Beaches | For the D Day beaches, Bayeux and Caen are both popular bases, but you can also day trip from Paris. I highly recommend a guided tour, to get the most out of the experience. These are some of the most popular.
E-Sim | I always get a data package for international travel. Jetpac offers affordable esim packages for as low as $1/ day.
Insurance. Whether you get injured and need to be hospitalized, your phone gets stolen, or a flight delay leaves you with nothing but the clothes on your back, travel insurance will help when you need it most. During our last trip, riots in Paris shut down the city. Get a quote for your trip here.
You Might Also Enjoy:
Normandy Vacation Planning
How to Get from Paris to Normandy
Cruising on the Seine River from Paris to Rouen
The Most Beautiful Places in Normandy
21 of the Best Things to Do in Normandy
Normandy Towns
Quick Guide to Rouen, Normandy's Capital
Paris to Normandy Day Trips: Vernon & Auvers-sur-Oise
Visiting Giverny & Monet's House
WWII Memorials
How to See Normandy Beach & D-Day Sites
Visiting the Normandy Cemetery in Remembrance of D-Day
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Hello – your site is very informative. I have a question about the train from Paris to Bayeux — your site says that this train is about 2 hours, but when I check the SNCF website it shows 6 – 7 hours. We plan to visit in early June but I think train schedules are posted only 3 months ahead so I checked a Feb date. Will there be more/quicker trains in June ?
Many thanks
Liz
Author
Hi Elizabeth, Yes there should be much more frequent, faster options in the summer.
Bonjour! Planning a trip the end of April. We are meeting a tour in London but we have 2 days ahead of the tour to visit Normandy. I would like to leave Bayeux and go to London without going back to Paris. How would you suggest we travel ?
Hi Sher: Thanks for your great travel tips. I will be visiting Normandy in October 2020 and cannot figure how to reach Bayeux by train from CDG airport on our day of arrival. Alternatively we may consider renting a car, biut prefer not to drive as first option. Thanks.Alma
Very Helpful information.
well done.
Author
Thank you!